And Hang On To Yourself was the best track on Dig Lazarus Dig, not either of the two selected.

just listened to a few songs by nick cave and the bad seeds on their myspace. I definitely think their music was a big influence on ryan gosling's dead man's bones

Nah. Good tuneage there, but it's definitely More News From Nowhere that takes it for me. In fact, I might just get it on in a minute - it's been a while.

i'd never heard nick cave until i read the abhorrent title of this thread. and i generally don't go out of my way to dis an artist, but i find nick cave repulsive...

and he's got NOTHING on Cohen!

Nick Cave is like Leonard Cohen but without all the really dull records.

What album is generally considered Cave's masterpiece?

Let Love In/The Boatman's Call?

I think Murder Ballads is by far his best. I adore that album.

I don't think he has a best album

All his run of albums from Tender Prey to The Boatman's Call are really solid.

Yeah, he's consistently good. I never hear people really giving Murder Ballads much credit, I've never heard anyone cite it as his best album which is strange to me. Lyrically I think he was at his best with Murder Ballads. Maybe it's because there's so many great albums to choose from, that's why people don't hold it at the top.

And oi! Leave Cohen alone.

Really? I think Murder Ballads is his most consistently lauded album.

Yep, I hear praise for Let Love In/The Boatman's Call/Tender Pray but never Murder Ballads.